Medical Tests Sourcebook

Basic Consumer Health Information about X-Rays, Blood Tests, Stool and Urine Tests, Biopsies, Mammography, Endoscopic Procedures, Ultrasound Exams, Computed Tomography, Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), Nuclear Medicine, Genetic Testing, Home-Use Tests, and More

Medical testing processes can be found at every stage of the lifespan. Screening tests serve as tools to identify people at risk for certain disorders. Diagnostic tests can help pinpoint specific markers of disease or rule out alternate possibilities. Medical tests can also be used to monitor the course of disease progression, to make crucial decisions about initiating or withdrawing therapies, and to evaluate the effects of treatment. Despite their widespread use, however, medical testing technologies may seem confusing to many people, and the process of deciphering test reports can be bewildering.

Medical Tests Sourcebook, Third Edition provides updated information about the vast and ever-growing arena of screening, diagnostic, and disease-monitoring exams. It provides an overview of tests for preventive care in infants, children, and adults. It discusses screening and assessment tests associated with such specific concerns as cancer, heart disease, diabetes, kidney disease, thyroid dysfunction, infertility, osteoporosis, sexually transmitted diseases, allergies, hearing loss, and vision problems. It offers details about blood testing, biopsy procedures, imaging tests—including x-rays, ultrasounds, computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, and nuclear medicine—electrical and endoscopic procedures, and tests designed for home use. The book concludes with a glossary of related terms, information about on-line health screening tools, and resources for more information about medical tests.